Netbook Choice » MSI Wind U200

MSI makes 12.1-inch Wind U200 official + full spec list

Jet Sun — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:49:38 +0000

Whilst the MSI Wind U200 12.1-inch netbook has already had a launch event back in May, the company has only just got around to officially announcing the device. The Wind U200 has a high-resolution (1366 x 768) LED backlit glossy display and is powered by Intel’s Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processor.

Two processors are listed, the 723 & SU3500, which means there are likely to be different SKUs. A maximum of 4GB RAM is allowed, it also comes with a 1.3MP webcam and three USB ports. The company claims that the 6-cell battery should last for 6.5 hours when running in ECO Turbo mode. This is a good time considering the size of the display.

The Wind U200 weighs a reasonable 1.4kg (with the 3-cell battery) and is 31mm at its thickest point. The press release didn’t give any detail on price points and availability although it can’t be too long now, especially since the AMD version (Wind U210) is already out in Europe.

MSI Wind U200 Technical Specifications:

MSI Wind U210: AMD-powered 12.1-inch netbook unveiled

Jet Sun — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:27:10 +0000

MSI has already announced the 12.1-inch Wind U200 CULV-based netbook. However, it looks like MSI is releasing a companion netbook dubbed the Wind U210 that will be powered with an AMD Neo processor. The feature set looks to remain the same apart from the AMD internals.

Specifically, it will ship with an AMD Athlon X2 MV40 processor, 2GB RAM and a 250GB SATA HDD. It will also come with Windows Vista Home Premium. It will be available in both black and gray and cost €449 in mainland Europe. A cheaper SKU is also expected that will ship with Windows XP and have 1GB RAM and a 160GB HDD and cost €399. There’s no word of a UK price or shipping date right now.

The standard Wind U200 comes with a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 723, Intel GS45 chipset and Intel GMA 4500M graphics. It has a 12.1-inch high-resolution (1366 x 768) display. Other features include HDMI-out, Wi-Fi (Draft-N), Bluetooth 2.0, three USB ports, a 1.3MP webcam, 6-cell battery and 4-in-1 card reader. The Wind U200 is expected to ship in the next few weeks in Europe.

MSI Wind U210-002 Technical Specifications:

Processor: AMD Athlon Neo MV-40, 1.6 GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 800MHz HT
Memory: 1GB DDR2
Screen: 12.1 inches
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1250, HyperMemory (integrated)
Hard Disk: 160GB SATA 5400 rpm
Networking: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home
Dimensions: 297 x 190 x 31 mm
Weight: 1.5 Kg
Other: webcam, black or gray

MSI Wind U210-010 Technical Specifications:

Processor: AMD Athlon Neo MV-40, 1.6 GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 800MHz HT
Memory: 2GB DDR2
Screen: 12.1 inches
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1250, HyperMemory (integrated)
Hard Disk: 250GB SATA 5400 rpm
Networking: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g, 10/100 Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Dimensions: 297 x 190 x 31 mm
Weight: 1.5 Kg
Other: webcam, black or gray

Via Netbook Italia.

MSI Wind U200 hitting Europe in next few weeks

Jet Sun — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:59:04 +0000

There has not been much news on MSI’s 12-inch Wind U200 over the last couple of months. Despite this, the device is now up for pre-order on German retailer Notebook.de for €629. There’s no release date listed, although availability is expected in 3-4 weeks.

This particular model comes with Intel’s 1.3GHz Pentium US2700 processor, 4GB RAM and a 320GB HDD. Other features include HDMI-out, Wi-Fi (Draft-N), three USB ports, a 1.3MP webcam, 6-cell battery and 4-in-1 card reader.

However, Fudzilla claims that we may expect to see a U200 with a lighter 1.2GHz Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 723 by the end of next week. It says that this less powerful version will cost around the €499 mark. This version will come with 2GB RAM and a 250GB HDD.

The Wind U200 seems like a solidly built netbook with a full-sized keyboard and high-res display (1366 x 768). The ULV processor is paired with the Intel GS45 chipset and Intel GMA 4500M graphics.

Via NetbookNews.it.

MSI Wind U200 hands-on pictures

Jet Sun — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:32:02 +0000

We have not heard too much about the 12-inch Wind U200 recently. Whilst it has somewhat been overshadowed by Lenovo’s 12” Ideapad S12 ION, there is still a lot going for the Wind U200. It seems like a solidly built netbook with a full-sized keyboard and high-res display (1366 x 768). It’s also one of the first netbooks to use an Intel CULV processor, in particular the 1.2GHz Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 723. This will be paired with the Intel GS45 chipset and Intel GMA 4500M graphics.

Blogeee managed to get hands-on with the U200 at a press event last week and has posted a number of close-up pictures of the device. It is just 31mm thick and weighs 1.4kg with a 6-cell battery. The full-sized keyboard stretches to the edge of the chassis and has large flat keys. Upgradeability should be a cinch as a large access panel provides entry to RAM, HDD and a Wi-Fi module. The display also looks quite bright, although the pictures were taken in a dark environment, so it will be interesting to see how the display fares under normal lighting. Availability and pricing has yet to be confirmed.

MSI Wind U200 netbook video hands-on

Jet Sun — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:21:19 +0000

Yesterday, we showed you some pictures of the 12-inch MSI Wind U200 from NewGadgets.de who had recently managed to get hold of a pre-production sample. Now, Johannes from NewGadgets.de has put up a hands-on video of the Wind U200 where he gives us a tour of MSI’s new netbook.

It is one of the first netbooks to use an Intel CULV processor, in particular the 1.2GHz Intel Celeron M Processor ULV 723. This will be paired with the Intel GS45 chipset and Intel GMA 4500M graphics. It will be very interesting to see how this new chipset will compare to the Atom platform.

There is a large keyboard on the U200 and thankfully there is no flex, even when pressing hard. The touchpad also looks nice and big with two mouse buttons directly below. MSI could be planning a 3G option for the U200 as when removing the battery, a sim card slot can be found. It wasn’t a dummy either as a sim card could actually be placed inside. Apart from that, he walks through the ports, which includes a HDMI-out and a mysterious rubber plug. Check out the video after the break.

Update: We have also included a HD test video below. It’s good to see that YouTube HD video plays smoothly (something you don’t get with Intel Atom netbooks). A 1080p H.264 also appeared to be fine, just dropping a few frames, but perfectly watchable.

Photos of the MSI Wind U200 netbook

Jet Sun — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:31:58 +0000

The MSI Wind U200, is the first 12-inch netbook under the Wind brand name. It was only officially announced last week, but Johannes from NewGadgets.de has already gone hands-on with the unit. He has posted a number of pictures of the U200 in various different angles, but didn’t do a proper unboxing as he has a pre-production sample which currently has no box!

The MSI Wind U200 has a 12-inch (1366 x 768) display powered by a Celeron ULV SFF 723 CPU and Intel GS45 chipset with GMA 4500M graphics. It will come with 1GB RAM (2GB max), a 250GB HDD, Wi-Fi (including Draft n), Bluetooth, a 1.3MP webcam and a HDMI port. Altogether the U200 will weigh 1.4kg including its 3-cell battery. An optional 6-cell battery will add 200g to the weight.

We have attached a few of the pictures after the break, but to see the full set head over to NewGadgets.de. These pictures include the SIM card slot and an opened access panel, showing how easy it is to access the RAM and HDD.

MSI Wind U200 officially launched – hands on roundup

Jet Sun — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:39:22 +0000

MSI’s 12-inch Wind U200 leaked out yesterday and, as expected, it has seen its official launch today at an event in Taipei. With this launch, we do get the feeling that the lines between netbooks and notebooks are increasingly starting to blur.

The specifications are no different to that speculated yesterday. The Wind U200 will come with a 12-inch (1366 x 768) display powered by a Celeron ULV SFF 723 CPU and Intel GS45 chipset with GMA 4500M graphics. It will come with 1GB RAM (2GB max), a 250GB HDD, Wi-Fi (including Draft n), Bluetooth, a 1.3MP webcam and a HDMI port. Altogether the U200 will weigh 1.4kg including its 3-cell battery. An optional 6-cell battery will add 200g to the weight.

What we still don’t however are any pricing details or an idea of availability. Maybe further details will be provided at the Computex show in a few weeks time. Both Fudzilla and Netbooknews.de went hands-on with the U200 where you can check out lots of photos from the launch event.

Update: NetbookNews.de also has a video hands-on with the U200 which we’ve attached after the break.

MSI to launch CULV-based 12-inch Wind U200 netbook

Jet Sun — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:13:20 +0000

MSI is planning a new 12-inch ultra-thin ‘netbook’ called the Wind U200 according to Engadget. The MSI Wind U200 will be powered by Intel’s new CULV platform and official launch details are expected tomorrow. It is interesting that MSI sees this 12-inch device as a netbook, which is what they are claiming by branding it under the Wind umbrella. MSI aren’t alone in doing this, Acer is marketing its 11.6-inch ‘netbook’ under the Aspire brand name, whilst rumours suggest that Asus will be branding its upcoming 11.6-inch device under its Eee PC line.

The Wind U200 will have a 12-inch LED-backlit display running at a 1366 x 768 resolution. It will come with GMA 4500M graphics, 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard-disk drive. It will also feature Draft-N wireless. Despite the size, it will weigh just 1.4kg with its 3-cell battery. More information, including pricing, as we have it tomorrow. Engadget speculates that it will be priced around $700.